HOUSTON (Ticker) -- Charles Oakley is supposed to provide the
Toronto Raptors with toughness, rebounding and leadership for
budding star Vince Carter. Tonight, he also provided a win.

Oakley hit consecutive jumpers in the final 70 seconds and the
Raptors rode another sensational game by Carter to their first
win in Houston, a 100-99 victory over the Rockets.

Carter collected 35 points and 12 rebounds but it was Oakley who
came up big down the stretch. He made a 22-footer with 1:04 to
play that pulled Toronto into a 93-93 tie and sank a 19-footer
from the right wing 35 seconds later to give the Raptors the
lead for good.

"They double-teamed Vince, threw it out, and I hit my
bread-and-butter shot," said Oakley, who made 5-of-7 shots. "I
had been missing that shot, but I hit it this time."

"Oakley shot those like he was shooting them in the first
quarter," Carter said.

Carter added two free throws in the final seconds to seal it as
the Raptors improved to 2-1 on their four-game road trip. He
shot 11-of-25 from the field and 13-of-17 from the line as he
fell four points shy of his career high.

Cuttino Mobley scored 21 points and Carolos Rogers added a
season-high 19 for the Rockets, who have dropped two in a row
and eight of 10. Houston dropped to 9-20 after going 31-19 in
the lockout-shortened 1998-99 season.

Two free throws by Kelvin Cato gave the Rockets their last lead
at 93-91 with 1:14 to play. On the next possession, Carter drew
a double-team and the ball was swung to Oakley, who buried the
tying shot.

Mobley missed a jumper before being tied up by Raptors center
Antonio Davis, who won the jump ball. Again, Carter attracted a
double-team and the passing sequence found an open Oakley, who
made the Rockets pay.

"Tracy (McGrady) gave me a great pass," Oakley said. "The
rotation was great on that second one. It felt good when I hit
it. I was expecting the ball to come to me on both of those
plays. Vince was doubled, so I was ready in the corner, but
that pass was the key."

"Those shots were one step in front of the line," Cato said. "He
isn't supposed to take those shots, and he did."

Mobley missed a jumper and Alvin Williams and Bryce Drew traded
free throws. Toronto's Doug Christie sank a pair from the line
for a 98-94 lead with 15 seconds left and Carter added two more
after a layup by Houston's Walt Williams. Drew had a 3-pointer
at the buzzer.

Alvin Williams scored a season-high 17 points and Davis added 12
for the Raptors, who had lost their first four visits to
Houston. Toronto shot just 42 percent (38-of-91) and was
outrebounded, 49-46.

Walt Williams scored 16 points and Cato added 14 for the
Rockets, who shot 42.5 percent (37-of-87). Rookie Steve Francis
scored just five points but handed out 12 assists, matching his
season high.

"The game plan was to double Vince," Francis said. "That left
Oakley open, and you have to take that chance. I'll take it
anytime."

Toronto bolted to a 31-19 lead after one quarter behind nine
points from Alvin Williams. Walt Williams scored 10 points in
the second period as Houston closed to 51-50 at halftime. The
Rockets held a 72-70 lead entering the final period.